SAN ANTONIO — UTSA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox announced Wednesday that he has added Jorge Ayala to the Roadrunners' 2019 signing class.
A native of Edinburg, Texas, Ayala was a four-time area qualifier in the shot put and discus for Edinburg High School, where he holds the school record in both events.
As a senior, Ayala posted a personal-best mark of 59-6 in the shot put to win the area title and set the meet and Edinburg ISD records. That came on the heels of a 58-11 ½ measurement that won the District 31-6A crown in April. He struck gold in the shot put at both the Donna ISD Indian Nation Relays and McAllen ISD Meet and he was second at RGVCA Meet of Champions, where he registered a 57-4 effort during the prelims.
Ayala, who also started on the offensive line for the Bobcats' football squad, was the district runner-up in the discus with a 163-3 effort as a senior and he also claimed fifth in the event at the area meet. A three-time regional qualifier in the event, he unleashed a PR of 169-4 to win the Donna ISD Indian Nation Relays in February and he also topped 160 feet with a 160-1 mark for second place at the Border Olympics.
"Jorge Ayala is a great addition to our signing class," Fox said. "He has developed into one of the top throwers in the state of Texas and we believe he is just beginning to tap into the potential he has in both the shot put and discus. We are excited to welcome him into the Roadrunner Family and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level."
Ayala is the 18th announced member of UTSA's 2019 class, as he joins men's signees Jayton Acosta, Oquendo Bernard, Caleb Brandon, Joel McFarlane, Angel Robles, Grant Szalek, Jack Turner, Harrison Wade and women's signees Taylor Armstrong, Vera Chinedu, Ana Carolin Da Silva, Ingeborg Gruenwald, Sigrid Kleive, Natasha Purchas, Zoie Reyna, Amaya Scott and Maren Wilms.
